Title - Metro phase III to connect south Delhi markets

NEW DELHI: When the Delhi Metro's Phase-III becomes operational by 2016, the hot-spot markets of South Delhi like Sarojini Nagar and South Extension will be on the Metro map making it easy for shoppers and residents in those areas.Four major markets of the city - Sarojini Nagar, INA, South Extension and Lajpat Nagar will have dedicated Metro stations connecting them when the Phase-III becomes operational by the end of 2016.The existing INA and Lajpat Nagar Metro stations will be converted into interchange stations to further boost the connectivity of these markets, while new stations will be built at Sarojini Nagar and South Extension."This will also provide a great boost to the market of South Delhi as DMRC's plan of constructing Metro Stations at Sarojini Nagar, INA, South Extension and Lajpat Nagar with inter-station distances ranging from less than a kilometer to approximately one and a half kilometer will provide a great impetus to business improvements in the area," DMRC Spokesman Anuj Dayal said.He said this chain of four consecutive Metro stations will come up on arterial Ring Road of the national capital catering to the four prominent markets of the South Delhi.As per the Detailed Project Report (DPR), about 2 lakh more passengers will use these stations primarily to reach these prominent markets of the city which specialize in selling clothes, shoes and other materials.According to its projections, Delhi Metro expects around 1.3 lakh people to use the INA Metro station, Lajpat Nagar (54,454), South Extension (8317) and Sarojini Nagar (15,000).After the construction of new line from Mukundpur to Yamuna Vihar, shoppers will be able to reach these markets directly from far-flung areas of east Delhi as well as North Delhi.The Sarojini Nagar and South Extension markets currently have no Metro connectivity.